Danaya
A feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "the gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 772 living Americans carry the first name Danaya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Danaya today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Danaya births was 2005 (50 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Danaya. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
772
~ 1 in 443,982 Americans
Peak year
2005
50 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,045
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Danaya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Danaya from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 343 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Danaya by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Danaya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Danayas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. New York, Pennsylvania, California recorded the most babies named Danaya, while Ohio, Maryland, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Danaya
The name Danaya is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that has been in use since around the 2nd millennium BCE. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "dana," which means generosity or charity. The name Danaya is often interpreted to mean "the giver" or "the generous one."
In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, there are references to the concept of dana, which is considered a virtuous act and a way to attain spiritual merit. The name Danaya may have been given to individuals who were known for their charitable nature or their acts of generosity.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Danaya can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In this epic, there is a character named Danaya who is described as a wise and learned sage.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Danaya. One such person was Danaya Atreya, who lived around the 7th century BCE and was a renowned scholar and philosopher in ancient India. He is known for his contributions to the field of Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India.
Another notable figure was Danaya Bhatta, who lived in the 16th century CE and was a prominent Hindu philosopher and scholar. He wrote several influential works on Hindu philosophy and is considered a significant figure in the Advaita Vedanta tradition.
In more recent times, Danaya Mendis was a Sri Lankan author and poet who lived from 1901 to 1965. She is renowned for her contributions to Sinhala literature and her works that explored themes of love, nature, and cultural identity.
Danaya Eshe was an American singer and songwriter who gained popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s. She was known for her soulful voice and her blend of R&B, jazz, and pop music.
Lastly, Danaya Calica is a contemporary Filipino actress and model who has appeared in numerous television shows and films. She is known for her versatile acting skills and her ability to portray a wide range of characters.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Danaya throughout history, each making their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and achievement.
People
Danaya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Danaya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Danaya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Danaya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 772 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Danaya going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 443,982 US residents.
Is Danaya a common name?
We classify Danaya as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 786 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Danaya most popular?
The single biggest year for Danaya was 2005, when 50 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Danaya is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Danaya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Danaya in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.